Telephone meter control system



y 40- A. J. BUSCH ET! AL TELEPHONE METER CONTROL SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Jan. 13, 1939 T0 056005 MARKER 546(5 GROUP I MUL TIPLE 70 OTHER CIR CU/ TS A JBUSCH NVENTORSWHMTTHIES ATTORNEY July 16, 1940.

A. J. BUSCH ET AL 2,208,357 TELEPHONE METER CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Jan.13, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

A. J. BUSCH g 'WHMATTHIES directly.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,208,357 TELEPHONE METER CONTROL SYSTEMAloysius J. Busch, Madison, and William H. Matthias, Hackensack, N.Telephone Laboratories, York, N. Y., a corporation of J., assignors toBell Incorporated, New

New York Application January 13, 1939, Serial No. 250,700

15 Claims. (01. 179-71) This invention relates to and particularly tothose telephone systems in which message registers are used forassessing charges for the service rendered.

The object of the invention'is to simplify and improve the equipment forrecording information concerning the destination of a call and forutilizing this information to assess, charges on the basis of the zonecalled and also on the basis of the duration of the call.

It has been proposed heretofore to provide a plurality of zone andtime-controlled message register operating devices in of conversationaltrunks.

shown in the patent to F. J granted August 10, 1937. In

common to a group Such a system is Scudder 2,089,438, the arrangement ofthis patent, whenever a call is made involving one of the trunks, anidle operating device is chosen selective switches message register andconnected by to the calling trunk. This idle device is also connected,independently of the trunk, to the common digit recording mechanism inwhich the dialed number has been recorded,

and receives the zone information from it However, the zone and timingdevices employed in this arrangement include a plurality of zone timingcams each controlled by a zone clutch magnet and all controlled by amaster clutch magnet and driving me require considerable them inefficient operating co In accordance with the p chanism which mayadjustment to maintain ndition. resent invention, a

zone and timing device is provided which requires very little Morespecifically, switch for recording the zone maintenance attention.

it provides a cross-bar type and for controlling,

in accordance therewith, the number of operations of the subscriber'smessage register and the length of the talking periods.

In addition, the same magnets which control the setting of the zoneregister switch, function in cooperation with a clock-type interrupterto measure the talking periods.

Furthermore, the number controlled by a set of relays.

of registrations is When it is desired to operate the proper subscribersmessage register, the proper number of relays are operated in successionunder the; control of the closed switch cross-point of the cross-barswitch and are then released in the same order, the releasing time ofthe the pulse of metering time of the second relay of the intervalbetween pulses.=

These and other features 0 first relay of a pair measuring current andthe releasing the pair measuring f the invention will become moreapparent from a consideration of the following description in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows the zone registerswitch and control quipment; and 5 Fig. 2 shows the message registercontrol relays. I I

No attempthas been made to show the conversational trunk, thesubscribers message register, the digit recording mechanism nor theswitches for connecting them with the zone and timing device, since thepresent circuits are adapted for insertion in the disclosure of theabove-mentioned Scudder patent, to which reference is hereby made. Theconductors I01, I04, I05, I36, I38 and I33 correspond to conductors 92I,9I5, 923, 932, I0 and IOI2, respectively, of the Scudder patent. Theconductors marked To decoder marker correspond to conductors IOI5 toIOI9 of, the above-mentioned patent, provision being made for ten zonesinstead of the five zones shown in the patent.

When a subscriber initiates a call, his line is automatically connectedto an idle district trunk circuit and to an idle subscribers registersender. The designation of the wanted station, as dialed by the callingsubscriber, is recorded on the register mechanism of the sender, whichassociates itself with an idle decodermarker. The sender thereupontransmits to the decoder markersuch information regarding thedestination of the call as this latter circuitrequires for performingits functions in the extension of the connection. Information is alsopassed from the sender to the marker, regarding the number of thedistrict frame containing the particular district trunk circuit selectedfor use on this call, and the ma'rker thereupon establishes connectionsbetween itself and that district frame.

From the oflice code information received from the sender, the markerdetermines the zone in which the exchange serving the called station islocated and operates a corresponding zone relay. The marker also passesa signal to the district trunk which then causes the meter con- 45 trolcircuit to test for an idle zone and timing circuit. I

A zone and timing circuit is marked idle by battery connected throughresistance IOI, over the back contact of magnet I02, contact of jack I03to conductor I04. I

When an idle zone and timing circuit is found, the switch connecting itwith the district trunk circuit is operated and the connection is lockedA branch of this locking circuit extends over conductor IE5, through thewinding of relay I06 and conductor lflloperating relay I06 to connectthe zone and timing circuit through the the zone relays of point isprepared by the corresponding select, is closed by hold magnet I20 tomagnet I02.

With relay I 06 operated, select magnets I20 to I29 are connected to thezone relays in the marker. In accordance with the zone relay operated,ground is connected to the winding of one of the select magnets, forexample, magnet I20. With magnet I28 operated,a circuit is closed forhold magnet I02 extending from battery through the winding of holdmagnet I 02, inner right back contact of I88, outer right contact ofrelay I96, in parallel with battery through resistance I09, inner leftback contact of relay I38, left back contacts of select magnets I28,I25, I25 and I22, left front contact of magnet I2Il to ground over theoperating circuit of that magnet. Hold magnet !82 closes cross-pointIii], thereby closing a holding circuit for itself over the fourthcontact from the right of the crosspoint and conductor N25 to groundunder the I control of the district'trunk circuit.

Hold magnet I02 disconnects battery from conductor I54, thereby removingthe idle indication and connects ground to that conductor as an addedprecaution to prevent the possibility of seizing the timing circuitwhile it is in use.

Ground is connected over the third contact from the right of thecross-point, inner left back contact of relay I 3|, fifth right contactof relay N26 to conductor I 32, thus transmitting tothe marker theinformation that the zone information has been locked in at the controlcircuit. Having received the signal over conductor I32 and completed itsother functions, the -marker disconnects itself from the control circuitand releases select magnet I20.

When the called' subscriber answers, the dis trict trunk circuitconnects ground to conductor I33, operating relay I08 over the backcontacts of all of the select magnets as a test that the operated selectmagnet has been properly released. 'The circuit may be traced fromground over conductor I 33, winding of relay I98, over the left backcontacts of magnets I2I, I23, I25, I27

and I 29, over the outer left back contact of relay I30, left backcontacts of magnets I20, 522, I24, I26 and I28, inner left. back contactof relay I30 to battery through resistance M9. Relay 1438 looks overits-inner rightcontact to conductor I05 and connects generatorgroundgover its outer left contact tothe motor I 34 of the timer.Thismotor is of the synchronous type; commonlyeim ployed in clocks and,therefore, measures theconversational periods with accuracy.

At its third left armature, relay I03 connects ground over conductor I35tointerrupter'zml to control a time alarmf At its second left armatureit disconnects ground from conductor I36 and ex tends conductor I36 overconductor IBI' to the winding of relay 26I as a test against doubleconnections. At its inner left contact relay. I08 re moves ground fromconductor I 38 over which the message register pulses are tobetransmitted and extends conductor I33 to the inner upper armt- I theoperating circuit of relay 202.

ture of relay 202, where it is also connected to ground.

At its second right contact relay I 88 opensthe operating circuit forhold magnet I02 and closes a circuit for seizing themeter control,circuit of Fig. 2. This circuit may be traced frombattery through thewinding of relay 232, second right contact of relay I08, and over thecross-point I II], following the locking circuit of hold magnet I532, toground on conductor I65. Relay 202 disconnects batteryfrom the windingsof relays 293, 2634, etc., to prevent the seizure. of the meter controlcircuit by another zone and timing circuit. Relay 202 extends itsoperating ground over its own second lower front contact, second lowercuit functions for only a small portion of the time during which. thezone and timing circuit is held by the district trunk. For each zone andtimingcircuit. there is a relay, such as relay 202, and these relays arearranged in a chain. Relay 2EI2 has the preferential position and relay263 has preference over relay 294. As described above, relay 202 opensthe operating circuit of the relays lower'in the chain and operatesrelay E30 over the back contacts of these other relays. When the metercontrol circuit has completed its function, relay 202 releases,permitting any other relay in the chain to operate and seize the metercontrol circuit for use with the corresponding'zone and timing circuit.

The meter control circuit comprises a meter -made'for the initialtalking period of a call to that zone and to the second'contacts of thezone switch cross-points in accordance with the number of charges to bemade for each overtime talking period.

Assuming, by way of example, thatcross-point III! represents a zone forwhich five charges are made for an initial talking period of fiveminutes and two charges are made for each overtime period of threeminutes, the first contactof crosspoint I I0 will be connected to thelay 2 I 9 and the second cross-point to the winding of relay 2l3.

When relay 202 operates to connect the zone and timing circuit with themeter control circuit, a circuit is closed from battery through thewinding of relay 207, winding of relay 259, first contact of cross-pointIIII, right back contact of relay I3I, outer right front contact ofrelay H18, outer' upper front contact of relay 2E2, outer upperbackcontacts of relays 203, 284, etc., normal contacts of relay 205, innerlower back contacts of relays 204, 203, etc., second lower frontcontact'of relay 262' and thence to ground over "Relay 2I9 operates inthis circuit and closes an obvious circuit for relay 2 I8. Relay 2I8operates thenext relay in the chain, and the succeeding relays operatein turn 2 I 3, 2I2 and 2; Relay 26? operates in series withthese relays,in turn operating relay 205.

winding of refollowed by relays i Relay 205 opens the operating circuitof relay 2I 9 and closes a holding groundfor relay 202 over-itsalternate contact, inner lower back contacts of relays 204, 203, etc.,and the inner lower front contact of relay 202. I

When relay 2 operates, it closes a circuit through the lower winding ofrelay 206. At its uppermost contact, relay 206 provides a holdingcircuit for relay 205 under the control of relay 2| I. At its middleupper contact relay 206 connects a supplementary ground to conductorI35, and at its inner upper armature opens the circuit of relay I30 andcloses a holding circuit for itself in parallel with that of relay I30to the crosspoint IIO under the control of relay 202. Relay 206 alsoextends this holding ground over its lower front contact to the leftarmature of the even-numbered relay preceding relay 2I9 in the chain.Since this relay is unoperated, similar to relay 220, ground is extendedover the back contact of that relay and the left front contacts ofrelays 2I9 and 2 to the windingof relay H0 and battery. Relay 2I0 inoperating disconnects ground at its back contact and connects batterythrough resistance 200, over its upper front contact, lower back contactof relay 20 I, inner upper back contacts of relays 204,203, etc., innerupper front contact of relay'202, inner left front contact of relay I08to conductor I38 and thence to the subscribers message register. 1

Since relay 205 has opened the circuit of relay 2I9, the circuit ofrelay 2I0 is held closed only during the releasing time ofslow-to-release relay 2 I 9. When relay 2 I 9 releases, it opens thecircuit of relay 2 I8, which in turn releases after an interval toreclose the circuit of relay 2I0 over the back contact of relay 2l8 andthe front contact of the following odd numbered relay, which isoperated. Therefore, the releasing time of the even-numbered relays,such as relay 2|8, measures the'spacing intervals between impulses ofmetering current. The release of relay 2 I3 measures the fourth meteringimpulse; that of relay 2I2 measures the spacing interval, while that ofrelay 2 measures the fifth'and lastimpulse.

When relay 2 releases, it opens the circuit of relay 205, which opensthe holding circuityof relay 202, permitting that relay to release and.open the holding circuit of relay 206. Relay 201 also releases whenthecircuit of relay 2 is opened so that the meter control circuit.hasbeen restored to normal and is now ready for use by some other zoneand timing circuit.

When relay 202 operated, it closed, as above mentioned, a circuit frombattery throughthe winding of relay I30, middle lower frontcontact ofrelay 202, outer lower back contacts of relays 203, 204,'etc., backcontact of relay 206,normal contacts of relay 205, inner lowerback-contacts of relays 204, 203, etc.,inner lower front'contact ofrelay 202, middle right frontcontactof relay I00, fourth contact ofcross-point IIO to ground over conductor I05. Relay I 30 operates inthis circuit and locks over its fourth left contact, inner left backcontact of relay I3I to ground over the third contact of cross-point II0. Relay I30 opens the operating circuit of relay I08 which releases.With relay I08 released, the original energizing circuit of the timer isopened but asubstitute circuit is provided over the second left contactof relay I30. Relay I08, when released, also restores battery to thewindings of the select magnetsI20 to I29.

The clock-type timer was started by theoperation of relay I08, as abovedescribed. The motor I34 drives cams for operating contacts I40, I4I,I42, and I43, which make one revolution in a minute. No timer isarranged to return to a normal position, in which position cam contactsI40, I4I, I42 and I43 are open. When the motor moves away from normal,cam contacts I40 close an energizing circuit for complete revolution ofthe cams into their normal position and cam contacts I4I provide aholding circuit for the hold magnet I02 to prevent its prematurerelease.

The cam contacts I42 close for a short interval when the timer moves offnormal. A little less than thirty seconds later, cam contacts I43 closeand then open precisely thirty secondsafter cam contacts I42 open. Inthis way, cam contacts I42 and I43 operate alternately at thirty-secondintervals. When cam contacts first time, they complete a circuit fromground thereover, right back contacts of select magnets I29, I21, I25,I23 and I2I, inner right front contact of relay I30, winding of selectmagnet I20,

outer right back contact of relay I08 to battery.

the motor to ensure a I42 close for the Magnet I20 operates in thiscircuit and looks" over its left front contact, left back contacts ofmagnets I22, I24, I20 and I28, to ground at the fifth left contact ofrelay I30.

Thirty seconds later, when cam contacts I43 close, a circuit iscompleted from ground at the third contact of cross-point IIO-, innerleft back contact of relay I3 I, fourth andthird left contacts of relayI30, cam contacts I43,.right back contacts of magnets I28, I26, I24 andI22, rightfront contact of magnet I20 to the winding of magnet I2I andbattery. Magnet I2I looks over its left front contact andthe left backcontacts of magnets I23, I25, I2'I and I29 toground at the outermostleft front contact of relay I30.

The second closure .of thecam contacts I42 operates magnet I22 whichlooks and releases magnet I20. Similarly, the second closure of camcontacts I43 operates magnet I23 and releases magnet I2I. Therefore, atthe end of each minute of conversation one of the odd-numbered magnetsis operated.

The sixth and fifth contacts of the cross-points of zone switch I00 areused length of the initial and overtime periods respec: tively. To thisend, they are crossconnected, as

desired, to the windings of the odd-numbered] select magnets. Such, asassumed above, the in itial talking period for the zone identified bycross-point H0 is five minutes, the sixth contact of cross-point I I0 isconnected to the winding of magnet I29. I

Thereforawhen at the end of an elapsed fiveminute talking interval, camcontacts I43 close to operate magnet I29, 9. parallel-circuit extendsover conductor I 40, sixth contact of cross-point II 0, cuter rightfront contact of relay I30, left back contact of relay I3I, left windingof relay I44, outer right back contact of relay I08 to battery. RelayI44 operates in this circuit and closes a holding circuit for itselffrom battery through the winding of relay I3I, right winding and outerright front contact of relay I44, to ground over the third contact ofcross-point IIO. Relay I3I closes a holding circuit for itself over itsinner right contact and resistance I45 to ground over the third contactof cross-point I I0. Because of the presence of resistance I45, relayI44 remains operated temporarily,- supplying temporary grounds forholding magnet I29 operated and magnet I28 locked. The operation ofrelay I3I indicates the termifor determining the 1 nation of the initialtalking period and the start of the overtimeperiods; The operation ofrelay I3I opens the locking circuit of relay I351, causing that relay torelease and close a shunt around resistance I45, thereby causing relayI44 to release. Magnets I28 and I29 also release. A circuit'isnow closedfrom ground on conductor I33, through the winding of relay me, over theback contacts of the select magnets and relay I30 to battery, aspreviously traced.

Relay I08 calls in the meter control circuit as previously described. Atthis time, however, with relay I31 operated to indicate an overtimecharge, the circuit; of relay 261- extends through the winding of relay2I3,.second contact of crosspoint IIIi, outer right front contact ofrelay I3 I, outer right front contact of relay IE8 and thence, aspreviously traced, to ground over the operating circuit of relay 2H2.Relay Zltoperates, causing relays 2I2, 2H and 205 to operate in turn. Asbefore, relay 2H5 opens the circuit of relay 2I3 and relays 2I3, 2I2, 2Hand 205 also release in turn. Relay 2I3 operated closes the circuit ofrelay 2H1 which sends out an impulse of metering current. When relay 2I3releases the metering impulseis terminated. The release of relay BIZstarts'the next impulse and the release of relay 2 terminatestheimpulse. Two impulses of metering current are, therefore, transmittedas the charge for the firstovertime period.

The'operation of relay 2B2 reoperates relay I ii! which controls thetiming of the first overtime period and releases relays I08 and 292 torestore the meter control circuit to common use. Relay I38 also opensthe shunt around resistance M5 to permit relay M l to hold whenoperated.

Under the assumption that the overtime periods set by cross-point III]are three minutes, the fifth contact of the cross-point will becrossconnected to the winding of magnet I 25, and the circuit of relayMd may be traced from battery at the outer right back contact of relayI98, left winding of relay Hi l, outer left front contact of relay I3Ififth contact of cross-point III) to conductor I II. At the end of threeminutes, cam

contacts Hi3 connect ground to the winding of magnet I25 and toconductor I47, thereby operat ing relay I MI to cause the transmissionof another set of metering impulses- Relay ISI remains operated, butrelays I83, 292, I3II and Hi l function as above described atthree-minute intervals until the call is terminated;

When the call ends, the district trunk disconnects ground fromconductors I05 and I33. I-Iold magnet m2 remains operated overcamcontacts It! until the timer returns to normal to prevent mutilation ofa timing operation on the next call. With hold magnet It? operated,relay IE3, if

operated, completes its function and relay I33,

if operated, remains operated to prevent seizure of the meter controlcircuit until it has restored Relay ISI is also held operated until thecross-point is opened. Ground remains connected to the busy testconductor I 64 over the contact of magnet Hi2 and to the holdingconductor I05 from cam contacts MI until the circuit is normal, toprevent premature reseizure of the circuit.

Relays 2M and 23I} with interrupter Zilii serve to sound an alarm if themeter control circuit fails to release promptly. Relay Hi8 groundsconductor 7 I35 andinterrupter 209 when it operates to seize the metercontrol circuit. Metering relay 2I0 connects ground to conductor I35when this conductor remains grounded if any of these relays fail torelease. closes its right contact following the connection of ground toconductor I35, it completes a circuit for relay 230 which locks toconductor I35. When interrupter 200 next closes its left contact, itconnects ground over the upper contact of relay 230 to the winding ofrelay ZIJI which looks under the control of release key 232, lights lamp23I, sounds an alarm, grounds the metering conductor I38 and closes alocking circuit for relay 202 to prevent seizure of the circuit by anyother zone and timing circuit while it is in trouble.

Relay 209 is connected over the inner right contacts of relay IM toright armatures of the select magnets I20 to I29 toztest for thepresence of a false battery which might lead to incorrect.

equipment and a charge is made for such connections in accordance withthe respective zones, charge controlling means for operating achargingmeans individual to the calling line comprising a cross-bar zoneregistering switch operable by said common control equipment inaccordance with said registrations and means operated over Wheninterrupter 20B said cross bar switch for timing and charging fortelephone connections.

2. In a telephone system in which a calling line and called lines in aplurality of zones are connected by automatic switches under the controlof registrations set up in common control equipment and a charge is madefor such connections in accordance with the respective zones, chargecontrolling means for operating a charging means individual to thecalling line comprising a crossbar zone registering switch operable bysaid common control equipment in accordance with said registrations,means operatedover said cross-bar switch for operating said chargingmeans in ac corclance with the zone, timing means, means operated inresponse to the establishment of a connection to start said timing meansand means operated over said cross-bar switch for causing thereoperation of said charging means following a predetermined operationofsaid timing means. 3. In a telephone system in which a calling line andcalled lines in a plurality of zones are connected by automatic switchesunder the control of registrations set up in common control equipmentand a charge is made for such connections in accordance with therespective Zones, charge controlling means for operating a chargingmeans individual to a calling line comprising a crossbar switch having aplurality of cross-points,

means operated in accordance with the zone registration in said commoncontrol equipment to prepare a corresponding cross-point, timing means,means operated in response to the establishment of a connection to closesaid cross-point and to start said timing means, means operated inresponse to the closure of said cross-point for operating said chargingmeans in accordance with said zone, andmeans operated over saidcross-point for causing the reoperation of said charging means followinga predetermined opera tion ofsaid timing means.

4. In a telephone system in which a calling line and called lines in aplurality of zones are connected-by automaticswitches under the'controlof registrations set up in common control equipment and a charge is madefor such-con nections in accordance with the respective zones, chargecontrolling means-for operating a charging means individual'to a callingline comprising a cross-bar switch having apluralityyof crosspoints,each cross-point including a plurality of contacts, means operated inaccordance with the zone registration in said common control equipmentto prepare a, corresponding cross-point, timing means, means operated inresponse to the establishment of aconnection to close said crosspointand to start said timing means, means operated over a pair of contactsets of said crosspoint for determiningthe number of operations of saidcharging means and for measuring an initial conversational time intervalin accordance therewith, and means operated over an additional pair ofcontact sets-oi said cross-point for determining the number ofoperations of said charging means for additional conversational periodsand for measuring the time of said additional conversational periods. U

5. In a telephone system in which a calling line and called lines in aplurality of zones are connected by automatic switches under thecontrolof registrations set up in common-control equipment and a charge is madefor such connections in accordance with the respective zones,

charge controlling means ior operating a charging means individual tothe calling line comprising a cross-bar zone registering switch operableby said common control equipment, a chain of relays, means responsive tothe operation of said cross-bar switch to operate a predetermined numberof said relays and to operate said charging means, and means controlledby pairs of said relays for releasing and 'reoperating said chargingmeans.

6. In a telephone system in which a callin line and called lines in aplurality of zones are connected by automatic switches under the controlof registrations set up in, common control equipment and a charge ismade for such connections in accordance with the respective zones,

charge controlling means for operating a charging means individual tothe calling line comprising a cross-bar zone registering switch operableby said common control equipment, a chain of relays, means responsive tothe operation of said cross-bar switch to operate a predetermined number'of said relays in succession, means responsive to the operation of thelast of said relays to operate said charging means and to release thefirst of said relays, and means controlled by pairs of relays inreleasing for releasing and reoperating said charging means.

7. In a telephone systems in which a calling line and called lines in aplurality of zones are connected by automatic switches under the controlof registrations set up in common control equipment and a charge is madefor such connections in accordance with the respective zones, chargecontrolling means for operating a charging means individual to thecalling line comprising a cross-bar zone registering switch operable bysaid common control equipment, a chain of relays, means responsive tothe operation of said cross-bar switch to operate a predetermined numberof said relays in succession, means responsive to the operation of thelast. of said relays to operate said charging means and to release thefirst of said relays, and means controlled by pairs of said relays inreleasing for releasing and reoperating said charging means,

bar switch and said timing means.

charge controlling means for operating a charging means individual tothecalling line comprising across-bar zone registering switch operablebysaid common control equipment, a chain of relays, means responsivetothe operation of said cross bar switch to operate a. predeterminednumberfof said relays insuccession, means responsive to the operation ofthe last of said relays to operate said charging means and to releasethe first of said relays, means controlled by pairs of said relays inreleasing for releasing and reoperating said charging means,timing meansandmeans for reoperating a number of said chain, or relays 'under thecontrol of said cross- 9. In 'a telephone system, a zone and overtimemetering control circuit comprising a cross-bar switch having aplurality of cross-points, a plurality, of select magnets for preparingsaid crosspoints and a hold magnet individual to said metering controlcircuit, means to operate one of said select magnets and said holdmagnet to operate one of ,said cross-points as a zoneregistration,,timing means and means to subsequently operate a pluralityof said select magnets under the control of said timing means to measureaitime interval 7 I I I i 10. In a telephone system, a zone and overtimemetering control circuit comprising a cross-bar switch having aplurality of cross-points, a plurality of select magnets for preparingsaid crosspoints and a hold magnet individual to said metering controlcircuit, means to operate one of said select magnets and said holdmagnet to operate one of said cross-points as a zone registration,timing means, means to subsequently operate a plurality of said selectmagnets under the control of said timing means to measure a timeinterval, and means under the control of said cross-point and saidselect magnets to terminate said time interval.

11. In a telephone system, a zone and overtime metering control circuitcomprising a cross-bar switch having a plurality of cross-points, eachcross-point including a plurality of contacts, a plurality of selectmagnets for preparing said cross-points and a hold magnet individual tosaid metering control circuit, means to operate one of said selectmagnets and said hold magnet to operate one of said cross-points as azone registration, timing means, means to subsequently operateaplurality of said select magnets un der the control of said timingmeans to measure a time interval, means operated under the control ofone contact of said cross-point and said select magnets to terminatesaid time interval, and means to operate said terminating means over adifferent contact of said cross-point to terminate additional timeintervals.

12. In a telephone system, a zone and overtime metering control circuitcomprising a cross-bar switch having a plurality of cross-points, aplurality of select magnets for preparing said crosspoints and a holdmagnet individual to said metering control circuit, means to operate oneof said select magnets and said hold magnet to operate one of said crosspoints as a zoneregistration, timing means, means to subsequentlyoperate a plurality of said. select magnets under the control of saidtiming means to measure a switch having aplurality of cross-points, eachcross-point including a plurality of contacts, a plurality of selectmagnets for preparing said cross-points and a hold magnet individual tosaid metering control circuit, means to'operate one of said selectmagnets and said hold magnet to operate one of said cross-points as azone registration, timing means, means to subsequently operate'aplurality of said select magnets under the control of said timing meansto measure a time interval, means operated in parallel with one of saidselect magnets under the control of one contact of said cross-point toterminate said, time intervaL' and means to operate said terminatingmeans in parallel with a desired one of said select magnets over adifierent contact of said cross-point to terminate additional timeintervals.

' 14. In a telephone system, a zone and overtime metering controlcircuit for controlling the operation of a subscribers message registercomprising a cross-bar switch having a plurality of cross-points, eachcross-point including a plurality of contacts, select magnets forcontrolling the operation of a particular cross-point as a I zoneregistration, timing means, means for subprising a cross-bar I pulsetransmitting attest? sequently placing said select magnets under thecontrol of said timing means, a chain of relays, o meansfor operatingsaid subscriber's message register under the control of said chain ofrelays, meansfor marking said select magnets and said chain of relaysfor operation over certain contacts of said cross-points, means forrendering said certain contacts of said cross-point effective inresponse to the establishment of a telephone connection, and means forsubsequently rendering other contacts of said cross-point effective inresponse to: the operation of said timing means for marking said selectmagnets and chain of relays for reoperation.

v 15. In a telephone system'in which a calling line and called'lines ina plurality of zones are connected by automatic switches under thecontrol of registrations set up in a common control equipment and acharge is made for such connections in accordance with the respectivezones, a plurality of charge controlling means, an idle one of which isass'ociable with an established connection, each of said controllingmeans comzone registering switch operable by the common controlequipment, an immeans common to said pluralityof charge controllingmeans, means for associating said common impulse transmitting means withthe charge controlling means seized for use and means responsive to theoperation of the cross-bar register switch of said charge controllingmeans for controlling said impulse transmitting means to transmitimpulses for operating the charging means of the calling. line.

ALOYSIUS J. BUSCH. WILLIAM H. MATTHIES.

